Giving

Satan, via popular theology, has seared the hearts of many to seek the Lord in order to receive a blessing. That is, subverting God's love—charity—with man's love. God's love is other-centered while man's love is self-centered. With charity, the focus is not for self, it is for others, the Lord being first. Man's love says, "you give to me and in return, I'll give to you." This is not the love of God. "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" (1 John 4:8). The nature of God is to give unselfishly, whereas, the nature of the world—Satan—is to seek self-satisfaction. "Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth" (1 Corinthians 10:24). "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:3-4). Therefore, give without the expectation of getting something in return. "I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

As soon as you begin to live the life of faith in God, fascinating and luxurious prospects will open up before you, and these things are yours by right; but if you are living the life of faith you will exercise your right to waive your rights, and let God choose for you. God sometimes allows you to get into a place of testing where your own welfare would be the right and proper thing to consider if you were not living a life of faith; but if you are, you will joyfully waive your right and leave God to choose for you. This is the discipline by means of which the natural is transformed into the spiritual by obedience to the voice of God.¹³⁵

Many ministers use Luke chapter 6 verse 38 to "motivate" (manipulate) Christians to give money in order to receive a financial blessing. "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom" (Luke 6:38). We do not have to pay for blessings; God is pleased to give to those who obey him. "Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money" (Acts 8:20). The verses right before verse 38, verses 34 and 35, specifically direct us to give "hoping for nothing again." The "give" in verse 38 refers back to verse 36 and 37—give mercy: judge not, condemn not. "Forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses" (Mark 11:25). These scriptures refer to doing unto others as you would want others doing unto you (see also Galatians 6:7). Do you want others giving to you expecting a larger return from you? Here is the full set of scriptures:

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. (Luke 6:31-38)

Remember, God looks at a man's heart (inner disposition) not his outward disposition. "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts" (Proverbs 21:2). In other words, God is not looking at what you gave physically—"God is a Spirit"; he is looking at what you gave spiritually—"worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:23-24). "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings" (Jeremiah 17:10). When you give money to get money, you are sowing covetousness. Therefore, you will reap covetousness from other people—"shall men give into your bosom," and eventually the wrath of God. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:7-8). "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Colossians 3:5). When ministers preach "give money and money shall be given unto you" they are not preaching love, they are preaching self-interest, they are advocating covetousness. "And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15). Therefore, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). The self-interest is in getting more money than we gave. The expectation is that the Lord will "bless" us by having men give us money over and above what was given. The Lord's blessings are often not measured in money but in grace, mercy and fruitfulness (John 15:16). God the Father sent his son Jesus "to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities" (Acts 3:26). He has "blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). Therefore, our course is set: take no thought on temporal blessings (Matthew 6:31) "but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men" (Hosea 10:12-13). When we preach otherwise, we are opening the door for Satan to incite judgment, anger and bitterness against God in those that are expecting a financial blessing. Hence, we cause our brothers and sisters to stumble: "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak" (Romans 14:21); "But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ" (1 Corinthians 8:12).

It also causes confusion (double talk) to preach about giving an obligatory (mandatory) offering—tithe—and then also to preach about giving as a man purposes in his heart. "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts ... Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded" (James 4:3, 8). Further, when you give to get, intrinsically, you're giving of necessity. "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering" (Exodus 25:1-2).

But this I say, He which soweth sparingly [covetously] shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully [generously] shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:6-11)

Wow! Can you imagine always having all sufficiency in all things? Being enriched in everything to all bountifulness? That is true wealth! Our giving out of a pure heart builds spiritual wealth. Spiritual wealth is defined as an abundant supply of the grace of God which enables us to have all sufficiency in all things. "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). Money cannot do that, only the grace of God. "Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ" (John 1:17) and his grace is sufficient for you: for God's strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). "Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments [outward appearance], and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil" (Joel 2:12-13).

FREELY GIVE

Under the New Covenant, we give because we love the Lord. We love the Lord because he loved us first and has enabled us to become sons and daughters of God (John 1:12). We become sons and daughters of God when we grow in his Word, can hear his voice, and are led by the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God leads us as we present our bodies a living sacrifice and as we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. We present our bodies a living sacrifice by daily denying our flesh—denying ourselves: denying our right to ourselves. We renew our minds by daily, continuous study, belief, obedience and understanding of the Word of God. We deny ourselves, our will, for the will of the Father. "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father" (John 5:30): the will of the Father is that we love as he loves. "For God so loved the world, that he gave" (John 3:16), however, "The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth" (Psalm 37:21). To give is to love and to love is to give. When we do not give we do not love: "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth" (1 John 3:18). We love when we give as he gave: the best and the first. We give, first of ourselves and secondly of our possessions: "every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). In other words, "the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy" (1 Chronicles 29:9). Under the law, the people gave to support the priests and Levites, to support the poor, widows and fatherless, and to support special needs. In Christ, we likewise, albeit willingly without mandate like Abraham (Genesis 14:20), give to support elders (pastors, teachers, etc.), to support the poor, widows and fatherless, and to support special needs. We give our best and we give to God first through giving to the poor and needy (Matthew 25:34-40). The will of God is for us to willingly give to those who ask (Matthew 5:42), to willingly give alms—give to the poor (Luke 11:41), and to willingly give to support other Christians—minister to the saints (Hebrews 6:10). "The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it" (Proverbs 29:7). And, "He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse" (Proverbs 28:27). Therefore, "let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:9-10). Let us examine giving and determine its inherent qualities; giving has three components:

Giving is inherent to Love

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him" (1 John 3:16-17)? "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also" (1 John 4:20-21). Thus, give "to prove the sincerity of your love" (2 Corinthians 8:8): love gives according to capability and need (the law of tithing, however, pays for services rendered). "Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which he hath given thee" (Deuteronomy 16:17). If we truly love the Lord, we put him first in everything (money, thoughts, decisions, time, work, etc.). Money, however, can easily lead us astray (1 Timothy 6:9); therefore, the Lord puts emphasis on the giving of money: "Take heed, and beware of covetousness" (Luke 12:15). Our dependence needs to be squarely on God and not on money or any other idol. "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness" (Proverbs 8:17-18).

Giving follows God's sacrificial example

Jesus set the example we are to follow. He gave of himself; that is, he sacrificed himself for us. While God is not asking us to be physically crucified, he is commanding us to sacrifice anything that interferes with loving him (i.e., keeping his commandments). One of the most obvious interferences comes from money, or more specifically, the love of money. "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows" (1 Timothy 6:10). "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke 12:34). In a sense, money can be viewed as the blood of the world: "money makes the world go round." Likewise, "the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11). Thus, when we sacrifice the blood of this world we follow after Christ's example. He expressed his love by the shedding of his blood; thus, we can emulate him by shedding the blood of this world (money). "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death" (Philippians 3:10). "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour" (Ephesians 5:1-2).

Giving helps to establish God's Covenant

Under the New Covenant, the concern is not as much about a pre-stated maximum amount (ten percent) as it is about the state of our hearts when we give. If we love God above all else, we will give to him first of all he gives us: "freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). An example of this is portrayed in Genesis 4: Abel gave an offering "of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof"; whereas, Cain gave an offering "of the fruit of the ground." Abel put God first and gave cheerfully as an expression of his love of God; however, for Cain, God was an afterthought: Cain gave grudgingly and by obligation (by necessity) as an expression of his judgment of God. Our worship of the Lord should be extravagant, much like the example of the wise men from the east when they visited Jesus as a young child: "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh" (Matthew 2:11).

Like Abel and the wise men, we should consider God first before any other expenditure and then pray for guidance on how much more than a tenth to give. The Lord knows your needs and knows your heart, and since he means "not that other men be eased, and ye burdened" (2 Corinthians 8:13) he may even tell you to give less: "For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not" (2 Corinthians 8:12). It should be noted that being willing goes beyond just mental willingness; it includes the corresponding action. "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves" (James 1:22). For instance, Abraham exhibited his willingness to kill his son Isaac by going to "offer him [in the land of Moriah] for a burnt offering" (Genesis 22:2-3). He didn't just give mental ascent but validated his willingness by actually taking action. As we grow in spiritual maturity, God is looking for us to discern from his Word when and how much to give. Part of the righteousness for the scribes and Pharisees was attributed to following the law of the tithe—they "pay tithe" (Matthew 23:23) of all that they possess.

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (Luke 18:9-12)

As Christians, however, our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees: "what do ye more than others" (Matthew 5:47)? "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). Just like good parents set limits for their children until at such a time that the child is mature enough to handle themselves wisely, God our Father set limits via the law until we could be justified by faith. "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster" (Galatians 3:24-25). The law prepared us for giving based on faith; therefore, leaving the limitations of the law, let us go on unto perfection. The maximum imposed by the law of ten percent has been nullified: the former maximum is now our minimum. Even in the Old Testament there are examples of giving without a predefined maximum:

Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD ... (Exodus 35:5)

And all the wise men, that wrought all the work of the sanctuary, came every man from his work which they made; And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. (Exodus 36:4-7)

This example shows the children of Israel giving liberally; so much so, they had to be restrained from giving. They understood that God, not they, produced the increase, therefore they knew to "honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase" (Proverbs 3:9). For Christians, ten percent is the starting point of giving. The examples of giving in the New Testament mimic the exuberant and generous display of giving without a predefined maximum as displayed in the example above. In fact, these New Testament examples show not a meager ten percent but a range from fifty to one hundred percent! Mary did not give 30 pence worth (ten percent) of her spikenard to anoint Jesus' feet; she gave it all—one hundred percent (John 12:3-5).

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. (Mark 12:41-44)

And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. (Luke 19:8-9)

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. (Acts 4:34-37)

Through faith, we have access to the kingdom of God, and God is the source of everything. "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3), and "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" (2 Corinthians 9:8). "Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God ... And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day" (Deuteronomy 8:11, 17-18). Therefore, Christians are free to cheerfully give bountifully knowing that "God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister" (Hebrews 6:10). For "He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor" (Proverbs 22:9).

Receive To Give

Our giving, out of a pure heart, from what we have received from God stimulates more giving: "for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7). We see in the feeding of the multitudes that the disciples received the five loaves and two fishes from Jesus and they in turn gave more than five loaves and two fishes; in fact, they fed over five thousand people! "And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children" (Matthew 14:19-21). God multiplies "your seed sown" and blesses you with the wealth of the kingdom of God: grace. The gift of grace that brought us into the kingdom of God was freely given, thus, our directive is clear: "freely ye have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8). It should be noted that the word "cheerful" as used in 2 Corinthians 9:7 comes from the Greek word hilaros, which is the root word for "hilarious"; in addition, hilaros also means prompt to do anything. An example of cheerful giving can be seen in the scriptures below:

And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD? Then the chief of the fathers and princes of the tribes of Israel and the captains of thousands and of hundreds, with the rulers of the king's work, offered willingly, And gave for the service of the house of God of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand drams, and of silver ten thousand talents, and of brass eighteen thousand talents, and one hundred thousand talents of iron. And they with whom precious stones were found gave them to the treasure of the house of the LORD, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy. (1 Chronicles 29:5-9)

Another example which comes from the New Testament shows a poor widow willingly, without mandate, giving all she has to the Lord (Mark 12:41-44). The poor widow put giving to the Lord above the cares of her life. She may have well echoed David's words in her head as she cast in all that she had: "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Psalm 37:25). She was prompt to give to the Lord sacrificially because she understood that God was her provider not man, and that by forsaking all for the sake of the Lord, she would be recompensed by God "an hundredfold now in this time" (Mark 10:30). "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble" (Psalm 41:1); "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:31-33). The focus of giving is to bless others, especially other Christians, that there is no lack. "And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered every man according to his eating" (Exodus 16:18). Examples abound of this principle:

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother: But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth ... Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. (Deuteronomy 15:7-8, 10-11)

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need ... And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart (Acts 4:34-35, 44-46)

Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. (2 Corinthians 8:11-15)

So, "do good unto all men" that "fruit ... may abound to your account" (Philippians 4:17); and "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). For "herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples" (John 15:8). Therefore, "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it" (Proverbs 3:27). "And the King [Jesus] shall answer and say unto [you], Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (Matthew 25:40). "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 2:5). Spiritual sacrifices are inherent to the Christian's daily walk; thus, the prophet Isaiah denotes "an acceptable day to the LORD":

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. (Isaiah 58:7-11)

"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise" (Hebrews 6:10-15). "I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35).

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